High blood pressure: The seemingly healthy ingredient that raises high blood pressure
High blood pressure – a process whereby the force of blood pushing against your arteries is consistently too high – can cause your arteries to lose their stretchiness and narrow. “The narrowing makes it easier for fatty material (atheroma) to clog them up,” warns the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Over time, this mechanism can cause a blockage, hiking your risk of having a heart attack.
“Tomatoes and tomato-based sauces also have a lot of added salt when they come in a can or jar,” warns Durham Nephrology Associates, a medical group that specialises in high blood pressure.
It is wiser to opt for low sodium varieties or use fresh tomatoes, advises the health body.
Other culprits to watch out for include:
- Canned soups are top offenders. If you find yourself craving soup, consider making your own with a low sodium recipe or look for low and reduced-sodium canned options. This includes packaged broths.
- Frozen pizzas with thick crusts and lots of toppings are especially high in sodium.
- Frozen seafood and meats may also have added salt.
Prepared food from the deli or refrigerated section of your local grocery store can also have his salt content, so read labels.
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